FOUNDATION COMMITTEE
DISTRICT FOUNDATION CHAIR
 | Lorna M. Curtis Oak Bay, Victoria District Foundation Chair Contact |
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CRITICAL LINKS
with your help
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.
Our mission
The mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
What impact can one donation have?
- For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
- $50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
- $500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.
The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
The Rotary Foundation helps fund our humanitarian activities, from local service projects to global initiatives. Your club can apply for grants from the Foundation to invest in projects and provide scholarships. The Foundation also leads the charge on worldwide Rotary campaigns such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Rotarians and friends of Rotary support the Foundation’s work through voluntary contributions.
District 5020 proudly provides extensive Foundation training for all district Rotary clubs and Rotarians. Rotary Foundation Presentation for Clubs (PPTX)
Reasons Why
ways to support
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRANSFORMS YOUR GIFTS INTO SERVICE PROJECTS THAT CHANGE LIVES BOTH CLOSE TO HOME AND AROUND THE GLOBE!
GIVING to the Rotary Foundation helps fund projects that advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, supporting education, strengthening local economies, and alleviating poverty. Your donations are transformed into sustainable, life-changing projects that address critical local and global needs, from eradicating polio and providing clean water to promoting peace, providing vocational training and supporting service projects in local communities.
The Annual Fund is the main funding source for The Rotary Foundation’s programs. You can direct Annual Fund contributions toward the Annual Fund-SHARE, the World Fund, or one of the seven areas of focus (peacebuilding and conflict prevention, disease prevention and treatment, water/sanitation and hygiene, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, community economic development and environment)
When you donate to the Annual Fund-SHARE:
- For three years, your contribution is invested.
- After three years, that money is made available to fund projects. After deducting 5% for expenses,
- Half of the funds go into the district’s District Designated Funds (DDF). The district uses funds to support local and international club projects.
- The other half goes to the World Fund. This money is used for grants, grant matches, Foundation programs that are available to all rotary districts, or aid where the Trustees determine is needed.
WAYS AND HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE ROTARY FOUNDATION:
BECOME A PAUL HARRIS FELLOW: Recognition is given to anyone who contributes at least US$1,000 to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved global grant.
HOW TO DONATE:
- online at rotary.org/donate
- donate through your Club Foundation Chair
- OR SIGN UP FOR ROTARY DIRECT: You can support The Rotary Foundation all year by making a recurring gift with Rotary Direct. Choose how much and how often to give, using this simple and secure tool to make a big impact. Online credit card contributions can be made monthly, quarterly, or annually, with a US$10 minimum per transaction. You can enroll in Rotary Direct online, use the Rotary Direct enrollment form or The Rotary Foundation Contribution Form, or call the Support Center at +1-866-9ROTARY. You can change or cancel your recurring gift at any time through My Rotary. Rotary Direct is safe, secure, and easy. Sign up today!
JOIN THE PAUL HARRIS SOCIETY: Recognizes people who commit to contributing US$1,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus, or an approved global grant.
How to Join: Paul Harris Society Brochure
DONATE TO POLIO PLUS: support Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio, a disease that can permanently paralyze children, by providing funds for vaccinations, tracking the virus, and immunizing children in remaining polio-endemic regions. Your donation is crucial because it helps protect children from this preventable disease, ensures ongoing eradication work, and receives a 2-to-1 match from the Gates Foundation, amplifying your impact.
HOW TO DONATE: Donations can be made the same as a Paul Harris Fellow. When donating online under Featured Causes choose Polio Plus Fund.
JOIN THE POLIOPLUS SOCIETY: If you are willing to commit to giving at least $100 annually to PolioPlus until polio is eradicated, AND you complete the following pledge you will be recognized as a member of the PolioPlus Society, too.
HOW TO JOIN: Polio Plus Society Pledge Form
BECOME A BENEFACTOR: When you include the Endowment Fund as a beneficiary of $1,000USD or more in your estate plans or when you donate $1,000USD or more to the fund outright.
HOW TO BECOME A BENEFACTOR: Benefactor Gift Commitment Form
BECOME A BEQUEST SOCIETY MEMBER: A Rotary bequest is a commitment to donate $10,000USD or more to The Rotary Foundation in the future. This commitment can be made through a will, living trust, retirement plan assets, or life insurance policy.
HOW TO BECOME BEQUEST SOCIETY MEMBER: Bequest-Society Commitment Form
NO MATTER HOW YOU DONATE, YOUR GIFTS HAVE A BIG IMPACT WHEN THEY’RE PUT TO USE BY THE FOUNDATION AND BY ROTARY MEMBERS TO DO GOOD IN THE WORLD!
(Donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible)
Bring The Rotary Foundation to Your Club
Customized Presentations and One-on-One Support Now Available from District Foundation Experts
Interested in Learning More About The Rotary Foundation? Let Us Help Bring It to Life in Your Club!
The Rotary Foundation transforms your donations into life-changing projects around the world and in your own community. If your club is looking to deepen its understanding of how The Rotary Foundation works, how to apply for grants, or how to grow participation in Foundation giving, we’re here to help.
The District Foundation Committee has two dedicated Foundation Promotions Coordinators available to speak at your club—either in person or virtually. They offer tailored presentations that address your club’s specific needs and questions. Whether you’re interested in grants, donor recognition, or simply want to inspire more engagement, these presentations are informative, flexible, and designed to empower your club.
In addition to club presentations, one-on-one support is also available for members with individual questions or ideas related to the Foundation.
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For U.S.-based clubs, contact Paddy McGuire
Foundation Promotions Coordinator – USA CLICK HERE -
For Canadian clubs, contact Lynne Pearson
Foundation Promotions Coordinator – Canada CLICK HERE
Don’t miss this opportunity to make The Rotary Foundation a more visible and vibrant part of your club’s impact!
OUR CAUSES
Promoting peace
Rotary encourages conversations to foster understanding within and across cultures. We train adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict and help refugees who have fled dangerous areas.
Fighting disease
We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. We improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in developing areas.
Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
Saving mothers and children
Supporting education
More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
Growing local economies
Protecting the environment
DOING GOOD IN THE WORLD
Doing good in the world, both locally and abroad, is the most well-recognized aspect of The Rotary Foundation (TRF). Through the cultural bridges and understandings built, TRF can deliver both efficiently and effectively.
The unique position of Rotarians in numerous countries and communities, coupled with unparalleled integrity embodied in The Four Way Test, makes TRF able to solve big problems while demonstrating sincere care and a vision of sustainability.
The Rotary Foundation is comprised of three Funds working together in providing for programs: Annual Fund, Endowment Fund and PolioPlus.
Annual Fund
Your gift to the Annual Fund helps Rotary clubs take action today to create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, and fight disease.
Every Rotarian Every Year
The Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) initiative asks every Rotarian to support The Rotary Foundation every year. Rotary Direct Canada. In addition to contributing to the Annual Fund on a regular basis, members are encouraged to get involved in a Foundation project or program. EREY aims to engage every Rotary club member by:
- Encouraging every Rotarian to contribute to the Annual Fund every year
- Encouraging every Rotarian to participate in a Foundation grant or program every year
Share System
Through the SHARE system, contributions to The Rotary Foundation are transformed into grants that change lives. At the end of every Rotary year, contributions to the Annual Fund-SHARE from all Rotary clubs in a district are directed into two funds:
- Fifty percent is credited to the World Fund.
- Fifty percent is credited to the District Designated Fund.
The Foundation uses the World Fund portion to pay for the worldwide grant and program opportunities available to all Rotary districts. The Rotary Foundation’s funding cycle makes district contributions available for use three years after they are received. The three-year cycle gives districts time to plan projects.
Endowment Fund
The purpose of the Endowment Fund is to ensure the long-term viability of The Rotary Foundation and its programs. Contributions made to the Endowment Fund are invested in perpetuity with no erosion of the contribution itself. Many might view the Endowment Fund as the foundation’s “savings account” whose interest supports the Annual Fund, our foundations “checking account.” Unlike the Annual Fund whose money is distributed after four years after contribution, the Endowment Fund’s principal is never spent and is structured to maintain value against inflation. Read more in Endowment Fund Simplified.
Contributions are invested in perpetuity. A percentage of the total value of the fund is directed annually to Foundation grants and programs. Types of contributions:
- Outright gifts of cash, investments, or other property
- Life income gifts (e.g., charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, pooled-income funds)
- Testamentary gifts through wills or estate plans
- Beneficiary of life insurance, retirement plan accounts, or other financial accounts
FOUNDATION PROGRAMS IN DISTRICT 5020
Together, we’ll be able to make a lasting difference in our communities and across the world.
We believe everyone has something to contribute and a purposeful mission – and that’s what we want to help you achieve.
We provide a range of programs to support clubs, ranging from Community Grants, Global Grants, and Polio Plus, Scholarships and Vocational Training Teams. Whatever your mission is, contact us today to see how we can help you impact your local community or the world.
Let’s join forces and collaborate!
OUR FOUNDATION GRANTS
The District provides both community and global grants.
Using Rotary Foundation grants, our 34,000 clubs worldwide develop and carry out sustainable humanitarian projects, and provide scholarships and professional training to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sustain mothers and children, improve education, and strengthen local economies.
District community grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in your community and communities abroad.
Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus.
Grant sponsors form international partnerships that respond to real community needs.
Find out more:
POLIO PLUS
Rotary, along with our partners, has reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. We are close to eradicating polio, but we need your help. Whether you have a few minutes or a few hours, here are some ways to make a global impact and protect children against polio forever.
PEACE SCHOLARSHIPS
Each year, Rotary selects individuals from around the world to receive fully funded academic fellowships at one of our peace centers. In just over a decade, the Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 900 fellows for careers in peace building. Many of them go on to serve as leaders in national governments, NGOs and international organizations.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING TEAMS
Vocational training teams are groups of professionals who travel abroad either to teach local professionals about a particular field or to learn more about their own. The can be funded through district and global grants, continues to greatly help host communities solve problems and improve the quality of life.
SCHOLARSHIP
Scholarship funding is provided through the Rotary Foundation Global Grant. It funds graduate-level coursework or research covering anywhere from one to four academic years. Clubs and districts can create their own scholarships funded by district grants for any form of studies or with global grants for graduate studies in an area of focus.
FOUNDATION SUB-COMMITTEE CHAIRS
 | Lynne Pearson Parksville District Foundation Promotion Chair Contact |
 | Christine Dysart Victoria-Harbourside District Global Grants Chair Contact |
 | Joan Firkins Oak Bay, Victoria District PolioPlus Society Chair Contact |
 | Thomas E. Carroll Gateway-Thurston County District Foundation Champion Chair Contact |
 | Richard D. Clarke Strathcona Sunrise-Courtenay District Foundation Champion Chair Contact |
 | Mary Coward Victoria-Harbourside District International Service Chair Contact |